English translation

by Dr Andrew Smith

First Part

1. Overture

2. Chorus

Voice of Christianity: Lord, you are the God who has made heaven and earth and the sea. The heathens protest, Lord, against you and your Christ. And now, Lord, see their threats, and give to your servants all joy to speak your Word.

3. Chorale

To God alone in the highest is honour and thanks for his mercy;
therefore can our repose be touched by no harm, now or ever.
Completely without measure is his power,
all that happens is according to his will.
Well are we, well the people of the Lord

4. Recit.

Narrator (S): The whole body of believers were of one heart and soul. Stephen, however, full of belief and power, worked miracles before the people, and the scribes were not able to withstand the wisdom and spirit with which he spoke. So they selected a few men, and said to them:

Two False Witnesses (bass soli): We have heard him speak blasphemy against this holy place and the law.

Narrator (S): And the people and the elders became agitated, and went to him and seized him and led him before the council and said:

5. Chorus

The Jews: This person doesn't cease to blaspheme against Moses and against God. Have we not solemnly commanded that he should not teach in this Name ? And look, he has filled Jerusalem with his teaching. Because we have heard him say: Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs that Moses has handed down to us.

6. Recit. and Chorus

Narrator (S): And all of them who sat on the Council stared at him, and saw his face to be like that of an angel. The High Priest asked: "Is this true?" Stephen said:

Stephen: Beloved brothers and fathers, listen: the God of glory appeared to our fathers, rescued the people out of all distress and gave them salvation. However they did not listen to him. He sent Moses into Egypt, because he saw their suffering and heard their moaning. However they disowned him and would not obey him and thrust him from them and made sacrifices to their idols. Solomon built the Lord a house, but the Almighty does not live in temples that have been made with hands. Heaven is his seat and the earth is his footstool. Has not his hand made all things ? You stubborn people, you always resist the Holy Spirit! As your fathers, so also you. Which prophets have your fathers not persecuted? In the past they killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One, whose murderers you have become. You have received the law through the angels and have not kept it.

The Jews: Away, away with him! He blasphemes against God, and whoever God blasphemes, dies!"

Stephen: Behold, I see the heaven open and the Son of Man sitting on the right hand of God!

7. Aria

Voice of Jesus (S): Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets, you who stone those sent unto you. How often have I wished to gather your children, and you wished it not!

8. Recit and Chorus

Narrator (T): But they stormed on him and dragged him out of the city and stoned him and cried out loudly:

The Jews: Stone him! He blasphemes against God, and whoever God blasphemes, dies!

9a. Recit.

Narrator (T): And they stoned him. He knelt down and cried out loudly: "Lord, do not hold this sin against them ! Lord Jesus, into your hands I commend my spirit" And as he said that, he died.

9b. Chorale

You, Lord, to you I will surrender myself,
you, whose property I am.
You alone, you are my life,
and so death then becomes to me a gain.
I live to you, I die to you,
you alone are mine, so I am fulfilled.

10. Recit.

Narrator (S): And the witnesses laid their clothes at the feet of a youth called Saul. He took pleasure in his death. Stephen was buried by certain devout men who made a great lamentation for him. (taken from Acts 8,2 rather than the German)

11. Chorus

Voice of Christianity: Behold! We praise the blissful, who has suffered. Because though the flesh dies, the soul will live.

12. Recit. and Aria

Narrator (T): Saul however disrupted the congregation and raged with threats and murders against the disciples and slandered them and said:

Paul: Exterminate them, O Lord of Sabaoth, like stubble before the fire! They will not recognize that you alone are the Lord, the Highest all over the world. Vent your fury upon them; they must be silenced!

13. Recit. and Arioso

Narrator (S): And he went with a mob towards Damascus and he had power and command of the High Priest, to bring men and women bound to Jerusalem.

Voice of Christianity (S): However the Lord forgets not his own; he remembers his children. The proud fall down before him, because the Lord is near!

14. Recit. with Chorus

Narrator (T): And as he was on the way, and came near to Damascus, he was suddenly illuminated by a light from heaven, and he fell to the earth and heard a voice that said to him:

Voice of Jesus (Chorus SSA): Saul, why do you persecute me?

Narrator (T): He, however said: "Lord, who are you?" The Lord said to him:

Voice of Jesus (Choir SSA): I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you persecute!

Narrator (T): And he spoke, with fear and trembling: "Lord, what do you want, that I should do?" The Lord said to him:

Voice Jesus (Chorus SSA): Rise and go into the city. There someone will tell you what you should do.

15. Chorus

Voice of Christianity: Arise! Let there be light! Then your light comes, and the glory the Lord rises over you. Then, behold, gloom overshadows the land and darkness the people. However over you goes forth the Lord, and his glory appears above you.

16. Chorale

"Awake! Calls out the voice
of the guard, very high on the battlements,
"Awake !" You city of Jerusalem!
Awake, the Bridegroom comes.
Arise, take up the lamps,
Hallelujah!
Make yourself ready for eternity!
You must go to meet him."

17. Recit.

Narrator (T): However, the men who were his followers, stood and were paralysed with fear, because they heard a voice and saw nobody. Saul however raised himself from the ground, and his eyes were blinded; he saw nobody. So they took him by the hand and led him to Damascus, and he was blind for three days and did not eat or drink.

18. Aria

Paul: God, be merciful to me in your kindliness and treat my sins with your great mercy. Dismiss me not from before your face and take not your Holy Spirit from me. A broken and contrite heart you will not despise, Oh God. Then I will teach the violators of your ways, and they will turn themselves to you. Lord, open thou my lips, and my mouth will proclaim your glory.

19. Recit

Narrator (T): However, the Lord spoke to a disciple in Damascus named Ananias, saying:

Voice Jesus (S): Ananias, arise and ask for Saul of Tarsus, because see, he prays! This man is my chosen instrument. I myself will show him, how much he must suffer for my Name’s sake.

20. Aria with Chorus

Paul: I thank you, Lord, my God, wholeheartedly and eternally. Because your kindliness is great towards me and you have rescued my soul out of the deepest hell.

Voice of Christianity: The Lord will wipe away the tears from all our faces, because the Lord has spoken.

21. Recit.

Narrator (S): And Ananias went forth and came into the house and laid hands on him and said:

Ananias: Beloved brother Saul, I have been sent by the Lord who appeared to you on the way here, so that you should recover your sight and become filled with the Holy Spirit.

Narrator (S): Immediately, it was as if scales fell from his eyes, and he could see again and he arose and allowed himself to be baptised. And forthwith he preached Jesus in the synagogues and demonstrated that Jesus is the Christ.

22. Chorus

Voice of Christianity: O, what a depth of riches is the wisdom and knowledge of God! How very incomprehensible are his judgements and inscrutable his ways! To him be honour for ever, Amen!

Second Part

translated by Daniel Jacobs and Andrew Smith

23. Chorus

Voice of Christianity: The whole world now belongs to the Lord and his Christ. For all the heathen will come to you and worship. For your glory has revealed itself.

24. Recit.

Narrator (S): And Paul came to the congregation and openly preached the name of the Lord Jesus. There the Holy Spirit said: "Send out Barnabas and Paul to the work I have assigned them." They fasted and prayed, laid hands on them, and let them go.

25. Duettino

Barnabas and Paul: So now we are envoys in place of Christ, for God exhorts through us.

26. Chorus

Voice of Christianity: How lovely are the envoys who proclaim peace. Their voice resounds in every land, their words through all the world.

27. Recit. and Arioso

Narrator (S): And they were sent forth by the Holy Spirit. So they set sail and proclaimed God’s word with joy. Let us sing of the Lord's mercy and preach his truth eternally.

28. Recit. and Chorus

Narrator (T): But when the Jews saw the crowds of people who met to hear Paul, they became full of envy and contradicted what Paul said, and blasphemed and said:

The Jews: So speaks the Lord: I am the Lord, and apart from me is no salvation.

Narrator (T): And they took Paul apart and held counsel together, that they might kill him, and spoke to each other:

29a. Chorus

The Jews: "Isn't he the one who, in Jerusalem, riled up everyone who invokes this name? All liars must be silenced! Away, away with him!"

29b. Chorale

O Jesus Christ, true light,
enlighten those who know you not,
and bring them to your hearth,
that their souls, too, be blessed.

Shed light upon those who are blinded.
Bring in those who have broken from us.
Gather in those who have scattered.
Fortify those who doubt.

30. Recit.

Narrator (T): But Paul and Barnabas spoke freely and publicly:

Paul: It was necessary to preach the Word of God to you first. But since you reject it and so prove yourselves to be unworthy of eternal life, so we turn our attention to the heathens.

31. Duetto

Barnabas and Paul: For thus has the Lord commanded us: I have set you among heathens to the light, that you might be salvation unto the end of the earth. For whoever shall call out the name of the Lord shall be blessed.

32. Recit.

Narrator (S): And there was a man from Lystra who was lame and had never yet walked. He heard Paul discourse. When Paul noticed him, he said in a loud voice: "Get up on your feet!" He sprang up and walked, and praised God. But when the heathens saw what Paul had done, they raised their voices and said to one another:

33. Chorus

The Heathens: The gods have turned human and come down to us.

34. Recit.

Narrator (S): And they called Barnabas Jupiter and Paul, Mercury. Even so, Jupiter's priest, who stood outside their town, brought cattle with garlands before the gate, intending to join the people in sacrifice. And they worshipped.

35. Chorus

The Heathens: Be merciful to us, exalted gods! Look down upon our sacrifice!

36. Recit. and Chorus

Narrator (T): When the apostles heard this, they tore their clothes and rushed into the crowd, shouting, and said:

Paul: You men, what are you doing ? We are also mortal humans, the same as you, and we preach the gospel to you so that you will turn from this falsehood to the living God, who has made the heavens, the earth, and the sea. As the prophet said: All your idols are false, vain nothingness and have no life. You must fall if you are stricken. God does not live in temples made by human hands. Do you not know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s spirit lives within you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, he will God destroy. The temple God is sacred. You are that! But our God is in heaven, he creates everything, according to his will.

Voice of Christianity: However our God is in heaven, he creates all, according to his will.

37. Recit

Narrator (S): The people became inflamed against them, the indignation of the Jews and the heathens was aroused, and they became full of fury and shouted against them:

38. Chorus

The Jews and Heathens: Here is the Lord’s temple! Men of Israel help us! This is the person, who to all men and at all times teaches against the people, against the law and against this holy place! Stone him!

39. Recit.

Narrator (S): And they all pursued Paul through the streets. But the Lord stood by him and strengthened him so that, through him, the preaching might ring true, and all the heathen might listen.

40. Cavatina

Voice of Jesus (T): Be faithful unto death, as I want to give you the crown of life. Fear not, I am with you.

41. Recit.

Narrator (S): Paul summoned the Elders of the congregation of Ephesus and said to them:

Paul: You know I have always lived beside you, and have served the Lord with all humility and with many tears and have borne witness to faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. And now you see me, a prisoner already in spirit, ride out to Jerusalem. Affliction and shackles await me there. You will never see my face again.

Narrator (S): They wept and said:

42. Chorus and Recit.

The Congregation in Ephesus: But save yourself! That shall not happen to you!

Paul: Why do you weep and break my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the sake of Lord Jesus' name.

Narrator (T): And when he had said that, he knelt down and prayed with them all. And they ushered him to the ship and saw his face nevermore.

43. Chorus

Voice of Christianity: See what love the Father has shown us, for us to be called God’s children.

44. Recit.

Voice of Christianity (soprano solo): And, though he will soon be sacrificed upon the offering of our faith, yet has he fought a good fight. He has finished his course, he has kept the faith. Henceforth he will be covered with the crown of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give him on that day.

45. Closing Chorus

Voice of Christianity: Not however him alone, but all who love his coming. The Lord regards us and blesses us. Praise the Lord, my soul, and all that is within me praise his Holy Name. You, angels of his, praise the Lord!